After a turbulent after-hours session that sent oil prices surging, prices have come off their highs after CNBC's Sharon Epperson confirmed with Saudi sources that reports of a pipeline explosion were false.

Crude oil for April delivery traded as high as $110.55 a barrel in electronic trading Thursday. 

The last time oil futures crossed the $110 mark was back in May 4, 2011. 

The rise in crude prices in the past five months has been steep. Since October 4, when crude fell to a one-year low of $74.95, prices for the commodity have increased about $35, or 47 percent.